Well hello there! I’m so glad you asked.
Before we get into a little science, let me tell you about my experience. I’ve been using the RichWay Amethyst Biomat for a year now, and here’s what I discovered on a personal level:
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Reduced inflammation
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Softer skin
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Deeper sleep and relaxation
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Reduced bloating
Ions for Eons
First of all, let’s not be Negative Nancy’s about Positive Ions, or Positive Polly’s about Negative Ions. They are descriptive words about their electrical charges, not a judgment on the health benefits of ions. We need positively charged ions in our body, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and a BIG one, magnesium (See? Not such a bad thing).
Negative ions can be free radicals we receive into our bodies through our most conductive points that can stimulate activity. You might know these as Chinese acupuncture points. We take them into our bodies all the time. The top four negative ions are chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate and phosphate.
We need both to live in the dynamism we call life. But what happens when these are way out of balance? Do they actually get out of balance? And what can we do about it?
Why Negative Ions can be a Positive Thing
Have you seen the pink Himalayan Salt lamps? I want you to keep that
Amethyst biomat produces negative ions like a salt lamp
in mind when you think of the biomat. Like the salt lamps, the biomat produces negative ions, something we’re surrounded by when we’re close to a bounding waterfall. You’ve also experienced them at the ocean, or when you’ve taken a relaxed breath full of clean mountain air. You also experienced them when you ate salted french fries.
A negative ion is created when a non-metal atom gains electrons, while positive ions are created when a metal atom loses electrons. Electrostatic attraction between the negative and positive ions form what’s called an ionic bond. For example, salt is a product of ionic bonding, but has both positive and negative ions, both necessary for functions in the body.
So what can negative ions do?
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Revitalize cell metabolism
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Act as electrical stimulation to the body (through conductive pathways, aka Chinese acupuncture points)
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Enhance immune function
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Purify or alkalize the blood
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Balance the autonomic nervous system
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Relieve pain
These are some of the main claims, and I won’t lie, mostly from marketing sources. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of scientific studies backing them up. Personally and anecdotally from clients and friends, experiences range from joint and muscle pain relief, alleviation of bloating and digestive issues, improved sleep and relaxation. As for reactions on the atomic level, well let’s face it, most health practitioners rely on chemists for this.
Why Positive Ions can be a Negative Thing
Can you guess what produces positive ions? It’s no surprise that Wi-Fi, computers, cell phones, and electronics produce some positive ions. Just think of what stresses you out, chances are there’s a lovely little electromagnetic field around it just popping a crackling with positive ions. Other sources you might not think of, like the water in
your hair after a shower (which, by the way, is why ionic hair dryers work so much better than regular ones), or actual light. Personally, when doing this research I didn’t see that one coming.
Now, don’t get ancy about your hygiene habits, but do seek balance and ionic bonding! Now, second quiz! What issues do you think positive ion imbalance may present?
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suppressed immune system
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anxiety
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breathing difficulties
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impaired brain function
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headaches
To reiterate, we need positive ions in our body to function. Everyone knows though that taking in too much sodium leads to water retention.
Now, you may be wondering why I’m not bolstering pseudo-science and brushing the ‘what-ifs’ under the rug. Really, I’m just as curious as you are! I want to provide the best techniques and products to clients as possible, so sometimes this deserves a in-depth inspection of what’s really being researched or experienced, and what’s being marketed.
The Amethyst Aspect
Amethyst has long been revered as a crystal to protect against drunkenness and instill a sobriety of mind (something we want while curiously seeking truth). You can read more about the benefits of amethyst here. It’s eloquently put, so I’ll paste a cut version below to describe the reasoning for using amethyst as a conductor from Richway:
“Natural crystals convert conductive heat into far infrared light very efficiently. Indeed, all infrared products rely on some kind of crystalline material for this reason, but some products use ceramic or graphite.”
You may have noticed that another gemstone, tourmaline, being used in your ionic blow dryer. This is the same concept, and actually the biomat pillow I have has layers of tourmaline, although there’s not real benefit other than beauty because there is no FIR transfer.
Resources
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Here is a website I use to understand the biomat.
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This video below (play at 3 min) goes over some of the benefits, some of which I have personally observed. I especially love the explanations of the skin improvement.
Other Considerations
There is a lot of frightening information circulating, but make sure to use your noggin while listening. It’s easy to believe technology is radiating mounds of negative influences into our bodies, and maybe some day more information will come to bolster this. But think of it this way, when we’re spending most of our time stressing, tap tap tapping on our computers, living in fear, and eating junk meals at our desk jobs that we hate so much, it’s not wonder that we’re miserable and irritable.
The amethyst biomat is literally a jewel, and I highly recommend using it for stress and pain relief, but I also recommend being a human. Eat your ions with consideration, connect with people you love, and get some exercise in the warm ocean breeze or in the cold mountain air, and in between, come get a dose of reflexology on the biomat!
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